U18s top group after win over Feyenoord

Callum Nicholas and Harry Wilson both hit the back of the net as Neil Critchley's side made it a clean sweep of victories in Group A out in Indonesia.

Having already triumphed over Frenz United and Guangzhou Evergrande in their opening two fixtures, the Reds knew progress to the final eight had already been secured - but they were determined to maintain their good form.

Nicholas, who swapped Manchester United for Liverpool's Academy in 2014, latched onto Sergi Canos' pass midway through the first half and fired into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

Then, with 20 minutes remaining, substitute Wilson conjured a sublime strike from distance to put the game beyond Feyenoord and guarantee a satisfying three points.

Liverpool had to weather an early storm in the Indonesian heat as their opponents pressed for a breakthrough and had multiple chances to claim a goal during the first half.

Toni Gomes missed an early chance to put the Reds ahead when he nodded Canos' centre into the grasp of Ferry Hagendijk, the Feyenoord stopper, and from there the Dutch went in pursuit of an opener.

Bert Koomen spurned a glorious chance to net, with the goal at his mercy, after Danny van Harren, the captain, picked him out unmarked at the far post; however, the full-back's touch was too weak and Ben Jackson smothered the ball gratefully.

Van Harren broke into the penalty area and shot towards the near post, but Jackson lunged low to deny Feyenoord again, before Erik Mans Hermann saw his volley blocked bravely by Tom Brewitt.

Then Liverpool broke the deadlock. Canos slid the ball through the opposition ranks and Nicholas managed to pick the ball up from a flailing Feyenoord defender before composing himself to rifle low beneath the 'keeper and grab his second goal of the tournament so far.

Nicholas might have added another shortly after when the ball broke to him inside the six-yard box, but the Liverpool man fired straight at Hagendijk, who rushed out to meet his shot.

Adam Phillips came on for Canos at the interval and his influence helped Liverpool control the second period of the clash, limiting the opposition time on the ball and ensuring goalscoring opportunities were sparse.

Then Wilson came on for Pedro Chirivella on 63 minutes. The Welsh winger had already hit two in the tournament - with both goals coming against Frenz United in the whirlwind 6-5 win - and he struck a wonderful third of the competition here.

It took him all of eight minutes to do so. Collecting the ball in the middle, he drove forward before unleashing a superb, curling strike which bent into the corner of the net from range and put the finishing touches to an impressive victory.

Liverpool U18s: Jackson, Travis, Lewis, Brewitt (Dobie), Owens, Chirivella (Wilson), Maxwell, Madger Gomes, Canos (Phillips), Nicholas, Toni Gomes. Unused substitutes: Ejaria, Whelan Johnson.